Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday's racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Chester, Beverley, Newton Abbot, Lingfield Park and Chelmsford City on 31 August 2024.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2 SKY BET ATALANTA STAKES (Group 3)
No9 TAMFANA
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The first of two Pattern races on the card can fall to TAMFANA. Her credentials are tip-top, including a frame finish in the Grand Prix de Paris and in the Prix de Diane, while this is the first time she’s run over a mile since being unluckily beaten in the 1000 Guineas. All things being equal she should put paid to her rivals on the way to a bountiful autumn campaign.
Race 4 SKY BET SOLARIO STAKES (Group 3)
No5 ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Field of Gold ran out an impressive winner at Newmarket last month to show he gets seven furlongs while the form of Matauri Bay’s Leicester debut triumph is working out. They are the two that pose the main threat to ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT who thundered home on his introduction at Salisbury and is a beautifully bred Lope De Vega colt who is out of the Juddmonte Stakes winner Arabian Queen.
Race 6 No8 IMPERIAL TROOPER
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: William Buick
IMPERIAL TROOPER showed that testing conditions hold no perils for him when opening his account at Ffos Las. He’s progressed from race to race, and from a plum draw on this turning seven furlongs can make it a winning first run in a handicap for his in-form handler.
CHESTER
Race 2 No16 BOARDMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
Given his good record on the Roodee and the fact that he’s been handed a plum draw, BOARDMAN can prove the value bet of the day. Carded to start a double figure price, he finished off his race strongly when just out of the money here at the start of the month, and after 13 starts since his last win is looking well handicapped. It wouldn’t surprise me if he attracts market support.
Race 4 No8 MAKE IT EASY (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Tinkler – Jockey: Alex Jary
MAKE IT EASY could have done with a better place on the gate, but as a habitual closer might still be able to land a blow. The Mehmas filly was all the rage before going down in a blanket finish on her latest outing at Bath and can make this first visit to the Roodee a winning one.
Race 6 No11 WEN MOON (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Haslam – Jockey: Franny Norton
WEN MOON is another that requires a market check following his eye-taking run at York. He’s run consistently well through the summer, is 2lb below his last winning mark and importantly has the luxury of an inside draw.
BEVERLEY
Race 2 No7 STAINCLIFF (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: PJ McDonald
The choice of two that Channon had in this valuable Listed race at the overnight stage, STAINCLIFF can shrug aside her relative inexperience to outclass some seasoned older sprinters. The Advertise filly hasn’t been without her issues, but is brimming with confidence after successfully returning in a Windsor novice. She should finish off her race strongly and repel fellow three-year-old Blue Storm, who is bred along similar lines.
Race 3 No9 SOUND REASON (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Mark Winn
SOUND REASON is overdue success for his new trainer, and can achieve it at the tenth attempt. He wasn’t quite able to claw back Opal Storm on his latest visit to this course while a more recent poor showing at Hamilton can be put down to the heavy ground.
NEWTON ABBOT
Race 1 No2 DODGER LONG
Trainer: Harriet Dickin – Jockey: Bradley Harris
Brave Knight needs to defy a penalty if he’s to remain unbeaten over jumps, and in receipt of 5lb DODGER LONG can cause him problems. The selection is under a third trainer in less than a year but made a fine start for Dickin when beaten a whisker at Market Rasen.
Race 4 No1 TOMMIE BEAU (Nap)
Trainer: Seamus Mullins – Jockey: Mickael Nolan
TOMMIE BEAU did us a favour with a forcing success over fences at Cartmel to record a third success from his last four outings on the summer circuit. He’s back over hurdles but has winning form at this similarly tight track and can again prove hard to get past.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No3 WHEELS OF FIRE
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Joe Leavy
WHEELS OF FIRE brings the best form to the table after placing in each of his three starts and has the wherewithal to take advantage of this very good winning opportunity for which he will go off a worthy favourite and should take care of business.
Race 3 No4 CARIBBEAN WIND
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
CARIBBEAN WIND converted a penalty kick to open her account at Ripon before finishing fourth in a blanket finish on her handicap debut at Bath. The Bated Breath filly looked in good order swinging up the West Ilsley all weather yesterday and is more than capable of winning this.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 3 No4 SEE YOU TONIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Siyouni filly SEE YOU TONIGHT has won or been placed in each of her four outings on sand. She’s in an easier race to the one she finished fourth at Kempton last time, and can prevail in the famous Peter Harris colours.
Race 5 No4 AMONGST THE STARS
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: David Egan
AMONGST THE STARS is by German Derby winner Sea The Moon whose progeny enjoy cut in the ground, but this is her first foray onto the all-weather. She didn’t fare badly when claiming a cheque on her first run in a handicap, and a further step up the trip ladder should see her in a better light.
